China/Hainan: Haikou – Temple of Five Lords
In the heart of the city of Haikou stands this gated compound of a 15th century temple complex known as the Temple of Five Lords aka Five Officials. At the height of Tang Dynasty (11th century) in central China, the Hainan island was considered deep periphery and kind of like Australia, it received various prisoners or disgraced officials sent away from the imperial court. This Temple commemorates five of these prominent Tang Dynasty figures, who one by one lost in the political power struggle and got sent here. The temple is serene and quiet with about a dozen traditional Chinese temple structures but rather simple and not overly decorated, overgrown with trees, and full of various monuments and statues.
